News/Blog

News and thoughts from our staff

 
Prepare, cook, and sell food from your private kitchen

Prepare, cook, and sell food from your private kitchen

By Brittney Sherman

In an effort to reduce the barrier to entry into the restaurant industry, Santa Clara County officially launched the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOS) program on Tuesday March 14. Small-scale home-based culinary operations can now submit applications to prepare, cook, and sell food out of a private kitchen. These “mini-restaurants” are offered reduced fees and reduced Health Department food facility standards, as a way to encourage minority growth in the food industry without incurring the overhead cost of a brick-n-mortar or food truck operation. MEKHOS operators are limited to producing 30-meals per day or 60-meals per week, employing one full-time employee besides family members, and generating maximum gross annual sales of $58,275.

To learn more and submit an application visit the MEKHOS website HERE.

 
February yields more than 300,000 new jobs

February yields more than 300,000 new jobs

By Brittney Sherman

The hospitality and leisure industry accounted for approximately 105,000 of the total 311,000 jobs added across the United States during the month of February. Food and drinking establishments led the February hospitality job growth, followed closely by the retail industry. Substantial pay raises for hourly construction workers helped boost the construction industry job creation with higher gains than most other sectors. While job creation grew during the month of February, so too did the unemployment rate by 0.2 percent. However, unemployment rates continue to remain close to the 50-year low despite continued inflation and economic uncertainty.

 
Cycle California! Magazine highlights Morgan Hill

Cycle California! Magazine highlights Morgan Hill

By Brittney Sherman

City of Morgan Hill biking, hiking, and family friendly activities were featured on the Cycle California! Magazine blog on March 2. The author experienced the City and all its offerings for the first time in 2022, while attending a familiarization tour organized by Visit Morgan Hill. The blog post describes Morgan Hill as easily accessible, weekend warrior worthy, and fun for the entire family. Read the full blog post HERE.

 
From office to housing in one step

From office to housing in one step

By Brittney Sherman

The “Office to Housing Conversion Act” is a state bill that would limit and potentially block a City’s ability to delay conversions from office-to-housing. The Act would block unnecessary review requirements, eradicate City zoning restrictions not supporting the conversion, and require 10% of the project to be affordable. To further spur conversions, the Act would also provide a grant funding mechanism through the "California Downtown Recovery Catalyst Fund.” In 2022, California approved a budget of $400 million to incentivize developers, however the combined challenges of labor shortages, materials, and retrofitting challenges have kept conversion projects to a minimum……for now.

 
How would you activate Downtown?

How would you activate Downtown?

By Brittney Sherman

In January 2022, the City Council approved the creation of a Downtown community parklet project to create additional community space. City staff would like to hear your thoughts about the ideas to program the community parklet, as well as explore other Downtown activation ideas. Please join us for a presentation at the Community and Cultural Center El Toro Room on Monday March 6, 2023. Meetings will be held in-person and via zoom from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. and from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. If you have questions, or would like to share feedback and ideas directly via email, please reach out to Brittney.sherman@morganhill.ca.gov

Join the webinar from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. HERE

Join the webinar from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. HERE

 
The end of one emergency could signal the crisis of another

The end of one emergency could signal the crisis of another

By Brittney Sherman

California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the end of the Covid-19 state of emergency on Tuesday February 28, right after the state announced 100 million pandemic related deaths. While this announcement signals the end of the virus emergency, it could also signal the beginning of a Healthcare system crisis. The healthcare worker exodus, financial deficits, and patients returning in droves to seek care they delayed during the pandemic, are all putting an enormous strain on an already delicate industry. In 2022, Newsom signed $200 million to support the training and hiring of healthcare workers, but taking into account the State’s deficit that number is estimated to decrease $50 million in 2023.

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